Picking and identifying magic mushrooms

A compact and clear guide for picking and identifying psilocybe mushrooms.

Warning!

From: Field guide to the psilocybin mushroom, Species common to North America, by F.C. Ghouled,
(c) Erowid.

"It is well known that a few species of the non-psilocybin mushrooms are
dangerously poisionous. Ingestion will cause the body to flush itself through
the bowels and by vomiting, with extreme cramps varying from mild to severe
discomfort to death. For this reason, not even a tiny piece of any mushroom
collected by the beginner should be eaten in the field.
First compare the
fresh mushrooms to the descriptions and photographs
herein.
( ... )
Even so, when you are certain that you have
a specimen of one of the described species, refrain from eating or smoking
more than a tiny bite."

First: do some research; study!

Don't go out there without any knowledge, pick some mushrooms and eat them.
This is irresponsible and psossibly lethal behaviour.
First grasp a basic knowledge of all the kinds of mushrooms that can be find in your environment.
Make sure that you are able to identify the dangerous ones.
Especially the look-a-likes of the psychedelic magic mushrooms you are hunting.

Plan your hunting trip

A specific kind of magic mushrooms -- like all mushrooms -- require a specific habitat
(soil, vegatation, climate, available nutrition, animals around, etcetera)
in specific climate zone. And what's more it will only fruit ( becoming a real mushroom from the mycelium ) a few months of the year.
So - before you start the hunt - you have to know what kind of magic mushroom you are looking for and determine where and when to look for them.
Make sure you are at the right place at the right time!